-_fə̇st noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin sophista, from Greek sophistēs, literally, master craftsman, expert, wise man, from sophizesthai
1. usually capitalized : one of a class of teachers of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greece who became prominent about the middle of the 5th century B.C. and impressed by the conflicting opinions of the early nature philosophers developed subjectivistic, relativistic, and skeptical arguments, were the first to offer anything approaching systematic education beyond the elementary branches, and argued for the natural equality of men, but taught also the art of successful living and partly by virtue of their unorthodox opinions and their acceptance of pay for instruction gradually fell into disrepute
2. sometimes capitalized : a learned man, thinker, or sage
3. : a person employing sophistry : a fallacious reasoner